April 20, 2010 Meeting Minutes Shutesbury Board of Selectmen Members present: Chairwoman Elaine Puleo (Via Skype), Al Springer and April Stein. Also present: Town Administrator Rebecca Torres and Administrative Secretary Leslie Bracebridge. Meeting opened at 7:35 P.M. Appointments In the presence of Town Buildings Committee Chairman Dale Houle, and members, Robert “Bob” Groves, and Andrew Webster and Shutesbury building contractor Jon Thompson, Selectmen discussed the proposed additional Annual Town Meeting warrant article concerning adoption of the “Stretch Code.” Becky explained that the 2009 state building code that goes into effect on July 1, 2010, in 2 months, includes many energy components similar to the “Stretch Code” The Town of Athol has adopted the “Stretch Code.” Dale, and Al at separate times, both spoke with Athol Town Manager David Ames (former Shutesbury Town Administrator) on the topic. Dale reported David’s speculated reasons why the “Stretch Code” passed in Athol: If Athol could stand out as a “Green Community” it might make its housing more competitive. Al added that Athol has 100’s of homes for sale. Other thoughts that Dale drew from his conversation with David Ames included: * There will be some “Green Communities” grant money available for the next 5 years; as more towns adopt the “Stretch Code” the amount of money available will decrease; there will be more money early on. * The 2012 state building code will include a lot of the “Stretch Code.” * The Building Committee in Athol opposed adoption of the “Stretch Code,” * If a town approves the “Stretch Code” and later rescinds its vote, no awarded grant money needs to be returned. Building Committee input: 1. Dale does not support adoption of the “Stretch Code” at this time: * Would like to see this “vetted” a little more closely and consider bringing it to a fall town meeting. * At this time there is a lack of information provided to builders. o There is a forum at Holyoke Community College (HCC) on April 30, one day before town meeting; more information may be available at that time. 2. Jon needs more information. * Is still looking for the differences between the “Stretch Code” and the state building code. * Is registered for the HCC forum. (Becky said that she has also registered for the presentation.) 3. Bob: * Athol and Shutesbury are two different situations. * These changes to Shutesbury’s building code will cost people money. * We have to be cognizant of the state initiative to make sure it’s something we really want. * It will have long term consequences. * People who may want to build in this town may not be able to afford to. * People who have an interest in the “Stretch Code” are dangling money in front of communities. * 30% of the money is being used up by administrative people. * We need to do due diligence and make sure it’s something we want. As a Selectman, Al has been trying to find out the price of inspections. Suggested answers: * $200 - $2,000. * There will be multiple inspections and it could add up. 4. Andrew supports the “Stretch Code.” * Is also suspicious of the grant money. He doesn’t know what we can do with it. * His architectural firm does energy efficient designs. He feels the initial building costs are offset with the long term operations energy savings. * You can drive energy savings by your own behaviors even tighter. * To have an Energy Star new home you have to have a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater in anyway. The difference between the Energy Star home and the “Stretch Code” is minimal. Al: If passed, it would apply to all new home construction and renovations. April: What are the “up-front” costs for a new “Stretch Code” home? Andrew: In training as a HERS rater: spent 3 hours in the house and 5 hours in the office. He thinks the cost of doing additional work and materials will be greater than the costs of the rating inspections. Bob: What right do we have to mandate it? * We’ll be obligated to get our town buildings up to code. * Questioned singling out this one thing when people drive up and down the hill to Amherst one or more times/day. What impact is it really going to have on the town’s total energy efficiency? * The state building code will drive energy efficiency anyway. Becky: It’s OK for the state to require it, but not for us to require it of ourselves? Bob: As an individual, he has absolutely no impact on what the state does, but he does have an impact or say at the community level and the community could act to influence state policy. Becky: Is concerned to see new big “McMansions.” Why are we still building big houses everywhere? Bob: Agrees that building smaller is a way to have an efficient house; another is to turn down the heat. Neither requires the “Stretch Code.” Dale: Builders magazines say smaller houses are the way to go. * Most houses in Shutesbury are small, modest homes. * Agrees with Bob of the need to lead the way for people to afford to come to town and build a home. o Even $2,000 is a lot when added to the fees already charged. * If that’s what you’re really interested in, you can already do it. * Unless we know we will get the grant money and we know what we want to do with the grant money, Dale can’t see mandating it on the people. Al: The program changed from bigger houses, to all sized houses overnight, how do we know it won’t change again? Bob: Learned in his 40 years of building that so much is trial and error; many new products come and go. * There are simpler ways to reach energy efficiency. * For example, a mud room entryway won’t get any HERS rating points and yet it is an efficient way to cut energy costs. Bob concludes: “Raters will be people looking for work who don’t necessarily understand construction.” Andrew: The same is true of inspectors: You make your deals and agreements as you go along Bob: It’s just another layer of bureaucracy; Elaine: How many years before we’re doing this anyway? * Answer: We don’t know. Jon: This new state building code is from the international code that is 5 years old. It’s very, very slow. Andrew: The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) changes are coming up (in the state building code) this summer. * Every three years IECC changes. * The state code won’t be ramped up again until 2012. Becky: The proposed library building is designed way beyond the “Stretch Code.” * The “Stretch Code” is not even an issue for them. It’s already happening. Dale: Takes issue with the plan to put foam insulation on the outside of the new library building: It’s labor intensive, and an invitation to every insect in town to come live there. Bob: It looks beautiful on the blueprint. When it’s installed it won’t live up to HERS expectation. * It won’t perform the way it’s “speced” to perform. * The assemblies being designed for high performance walls are too complicated. There will be unintended consequences. * Interior pollution because homes are too tight is an issue that people have to be concerned about. o In some cases, electricity is needed to introduce fresh air back into the house. o Bob would rather have fresh air leaking in under his door. “Live colder, wear a vest.” * The companies producing these things are trying to get on the green band wagon. * The windows at the school were supposed to be “really good windows.” They failed because the engineer didn’t know how they would perform. Now the windows have to be thrown away; “that’s not very efficient.” * Since the 70’s there have been so many thoughts that would be the answer to our problems. So many don’t exist anymore. Jon: Is there a plan for the grant money if we get it? Becky: By the time we have “vetted” the whole situation there probably won’t be grant money. * That’s what happened with the wind tower. o The rebates dove and the costs increased while we “vetted.” o We still have $15,000 sitting in an account waiting for a windmill. o We have grants for solar panels for 10 K for town hall that should cover 38% of the electric needs of this building. Elaine: Hopes on the 30th we have a lot more answers. Andrew: The Westhampton Building Inspector will be presenting – he also works for CET. Dale: 3 to 1 Building Committee members don’t recommend going to town meeting. Al: What harm will it do to wait? On the new model diesel truck presented for purchase, it turns out that the owner has to go back every 7500 miles for cleaning. Elaine: If there is sufficient clarity on the 30th, do you have the discussion at town meeting? Becky: Even with sufficient clarity on April 30, people would need a public hearing ahead of time and there’s no time available. Dale: Fall Town Meeting would be the time to talk about it. * Energy Committee member Craig Marden makes good points. But we builders are out in the field, and what do we do? * For this to not exist in January and to be adopting it in May, that’s just too fast. Jon agrees. April: There are just too many unknowns. It sounds premature to have it on the warrant. Al: And things could change. Elaine: If you’re just going to find out on the 30th, there’s no time for a public informational session. Becky: The Town Meeting Warrant will not need any changes to include adoption of the “Stretch Code.” Topics 1. See discussion of “Stretch Code” under appointments above. 2. See vote of Selectmen in number 4 action items below. 3. See vote of Selectmen in number 5 action items below. 4. Selectmen reviewed the FY 11 budget: * April concluded it is an incredibly tight budget but that it is well managed. * Becky: Tightened up on revenue receipts. * Penalties and interest increased slightly. * Becky was able to pull the excise revenues down. * Tax titles have been worked down to a list of ten. If you let people get too far out, they can’t catch up. * We got more money back for charter schools, which made up for loss of Chapter 70. * Payments in lieu of taxes show an increase for the Quabbin lands. * Investment income has decreased dramatically. 5. Administrator Torres reports that Mass Highway is taking the request to cut into the road seriously. * It will be a mess and who will pay for it? * Test borings are OK, but if they come back high, the road may need to be dug up. * A possible carbon barrel filtration system would be less expensive than digging up the road. 6. See Select Board action item number 9 below concerning the solar panel discussion. Select Board Action Items 1. Selectmen unanimously voted to sign a Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Shutesbury and the Shutesbury Teamsters adopting a 1.5% raise for the Shutesbury Police Department for the one coming fiscal year, 2011. The contract will be re-opened for salary negotiations only again for FY 12. 2. Selectmen unanimously voted to sign revised job descriptions for Town Clerk, Assistant Town Clerk, Registrars of Voters, and Recycling Coordinator. Because Selectmen made changes to the Custodian job description to include maintenance of the composting toilets at the Library and the boat ramp, Selectmen did not sign that job description. Election Officers and Fire Department job descriptions were not yet available. 3. Selectmen unanimously voted to approve the minutes of April 12 as written. 4. Selectmen unanimously voted to accept and sign the May 1, 2010 Annual Town Meeting warrant 5. Selectmen unanimously voted to accept and sign the May 1, 2010 Special Town Meeting Warrant. 6. Selectmen unanimously voted to accept and sign the May 1, 2010 Annual Town Election warrant. 7. Selectmen unanimously voted to sign a Joint proclamation for a Local Emergency Planning Committee as presented to the Board by Shutesbury’s Emergency Management Director Walter Tibbetts who serves as Shutesbury’s representative to the regional Local Emergency Planning Committee. The regional committee will meet regularly to plan for regional emergency planning services. Participation will satisfy federal requirements that each community create a plan to deal with emergencies. Membership is free. 8. Selectmen unanimously voted to accept and sign a letter of support for the Franklin County application for state 911 grant funds to conduct a Regional Dispatch Services Feasibility Study in Franklin County. 9. Town Administrator Torres reviewed bid results for the additional 5kW (DC) solar voltaic system to be installed at the Town Hall property. * Two references for the low bidder Ewing Electrical Company, Inc. had never heard of Ewing Electric. * The Ewing representative pushed off a meeting with Town Administrator Torres until May. * Town Counsel advised Town Administrator Torres to move on to the next lowest bidder, Fall River Electrical Assoc. Inc.) * Town Administrator Torres only received one reference response for Fall River Electric before the Select Board meeting which was very good. Selectmen unanimously voted to sign a contract for the procurement and installation of an additional 5kW (DC) solar voltaic system to be installed at the Town Hall property with Fall River Electrical Assoc. Co., Inc. in the amount of $31,328 contingent upon the remaining two references panning out. * One positive reference for Fall River Electric is in hand. * If the two Fall River references do not pan out, Selectmen would then revert to a contract with Waterline Industries, in order to keep the project moving forward in a timely manner. * It is assumed that Fall River references will be fine. New Topics 1. Al: A tank has been found at the 5 Haskins Way property. A Title V inspection will be conducted on it. There’s a good artesian well there also. These two features could improve the value of the property for its future sale. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Leslie Bracebridge, Administrative Secretary 100420 Select Board 1